Logan & Lowry, LLP___________
THOMAS J. McGEADY
MARK W. CURNUTTE
LEONARD M. LOGAN, IV
DONNA L. SMITH
ROBERT ALAN RUSH
DAVID E. JONES
TODD E. KOLCZUN
MICHAEL T. TORRONE
JOHN P. SEIDENBERGER
RYAN H. OLSEN
QUINN STINE
NATHAN M. BLOOMER
OF COUNSEL
RICHARD W. LOWRY
O. B. JOHNSTON, III
LAW OFFICES
101 SOUTH WILSON STREET
P. O. BOX 558
VINITA, OKLAHOMA 74301-0558
TELEPHONE (918) 256-7511
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__________
J. DUKE LOGAN (1931-2013)
CHARLES E. WEST (1947-2014)
March 5, 2015
Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary
Federal Communications Commission
445 12 Street, SWth
Washington, D.C. 20554
Re: Northeast Rural Services, Inc.: Petition for Extension of Time and/or Waiver of ETC
Designation Deadline For Rural Broadband Experiments
WC Docket No. 10-90, WC Docket No. 14-259
Dear Ms. Dortch:
On behalf of Northeast Rural Services, Inc. (NRS) respectfully submits the subject Petition
for Extension of Time and/or Waiver. NRS seeks an extension of time and/or waiver of the deadline
established in the above proceeding to notify the Wireline Competition Bureau of eligible
telecommunications carrier status.
Please direct inquiries regarding the NRS Petition for Extension of Time and/or Waiver to
the undersigned counsel for NRS.
Sincerely,
/s/ Michael T. Torrone
Michael T. Torrone
For the Firm
MTT/mg
Enclosures
Page 2
cc: Ian Forbes, Telecommunications Access Policy Division
Alexander Minard, Telecommunications Access Policy Division
1
Before the FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20554
In the Matter of ) ) Connect America Fund ) WC Docket No. 10-90 ) Rural Broadband Experiments ) WC Docket No. 14-259
EMERGENCY REQUEST FOR EXPEDIATED TREATMENT
PETITION OF NORTHEAST RURAL SERVICES, INC. FOR EXTENSION OF TIME AND/OR WAIVER OF ETC DESIGNATION DEADLINE
FOR RURAL BROADBAND EXPERIMENTS COMES NOW, Northeast Rural Services, Inc. (NRS), an Oklahoma for-profit
corporation and provisionally selected bidder under rural broadband experiments (RBE),
pursuant to 47 C.F.R § 1.3 and for purposes of NRS Project IDs 8 & 10, respectfully requests the
Federal Communications Commission (Commission): (a) extend the March 5, 2015 deadline to
submit appropriate documentation of eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) designation for
census blocks within rural telephone company study areas; and/or (b) waive said deadline with
regard to census blocks encompassed within said areas. NRS’s requested relief is consistent
with the public interest.
I. POST-SELECTION REVIEW PROCESS COMPLIANCE
1. The Commission’s December 5, 2014 Public Notice1 identified NRS as an entity
provisionally selected for RBE support. NRS’s total requested support of $1,029,274.00 is
1 Wireline Competition Bureau Announces Entities Provisionally Selected for Rural Broadband Experiments; Sets Deadlines for Submission of Additional Information, WC Docket No. 10-90, FCC Public Notice DA-14-1772 (Dec. 5, 2014) (“Public Notice”).
2
comprised of six (6) selected project bids (Project IDs 1, 4, 6, 8, 10, & 12) which, if combined,
cover 107 census blocks.2
2. In accordance with RBE post-selection review3 and Form 5620 Filing Instructions
(Filing Instructions),4 NRS has timely submitted the requisite Audited Financial Statements,
Technology Description, and Letter of Credit Commitment Letter.
3. On March 5, 2015, NRS timely submitted appropriate documentation5 (e.g.
original designation order issued by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC)) of its ETC
designation throughout specifically identified Southwestern Bell Telephone Company d/b/a
AT&T Oklahoma (AT&T) exchanges along with the appropriate certification in accordance with
post-selection review criteria. See Exhibit A attached hereto. The ETC Order granting NRS’s
requested relief throughout the AT&T exchanges evinces ETC designation within all census
blocks covered by Project IDs 1, 4, 6, & 12. Section 2(C) of the Filing Instructions requires that
a separate ETC designation attachment be provided for selected project bids, and thus, NRS has
complied with the post-selection review process for Project IDs 1, 4, 6, & 12.
4. As set forth in detail below, special and uncontrollable circumstances concerning
NRS’s attempts to obtain ETC designation in rural telephone company study areas will prevent
NRS from submitting appropriate ETC documentation for Project IDs 8 & 10 by the March 5,
2015 deadline. For the following reasons, NRS respectfully requests the Commission grant the
relief requested herein as the same is in the public interest and consistent with the RBE Order.
2 Attachment “A” to Public Notice. 3 See Connect America Fund; ETC Annual Reports and Certifications, WC Docket Nos. 10-90, 14-58, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 29 FCC Rcd 8769, 8787-88, para. 54 (2014) (RBE Order). 4 Attachment “B” to Public Notice.
5 Application of Northeast Rural Services, Inc. for Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier Pursuant to the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Cause Number PUD 201400359, Order Number 637332, Final Order Designating Northeast Rural Services, Inc. as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (Mar. 4, 2015) filed with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (ETC Order).
3
II. PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
5. At the time NRS submitted formal proposals for funding through the RBE it was
not designated as an ETC.
6. Immediately upon issuance of the December 5, 2014 Public Notice, NRS
diligently expended time and resources in preparing its Application for Designation as an ETC
(Application) for filing with the OCC.
7. During preparations, NRS confronted difficulty in determining the specific price
cap exchange boundaries and identifying specific exchanges, and/or study areas wherein census
blocks covered by selected project bids were located. Moreover, NRS was unable to locate the
Commission’s online maps of price cap areas containing exchange boundaries and NRS could
not definitively determine from available data which exchange or study area contained certain
census blocks and whether the incumbent serving each census block was a price cap carrier or
rate-of-return carrier.6 Further, the OCC’s online materials likewise were devoid of information
relative to said determination.
8. On December 18, 2014, staff of the OCC Public Utility Division (PUD)
contacted NRS’s legal counsel, unsolicited, to discuss the Commission’s provisional selection of
NRS under the RBE. PUD conveyed the OCC’s procedure for ETC designation and indicated
that PUD understood the urgency associated with satisfying post-selection review criteria.
Following this conference, NRS was optimistic about meeting the March 5, 2015 ETC deadline.
9. In continuance of its good faith efforts, NRS filed the Application requesting ETC
designation throughout various AT&T exchanges on December 19, 2015.7 These exchanges
6 Notably, the “FAQs for Rural Broadband Experiments” under Section IV (D) states a study area boundary map on the Commission’s website can be consulted to determine a rate-of-return carrier’s service area, but the link provided ( http://apps.fcc.gov/web/sadata/ ) brings a user to a window stating that the webpage is unavailable. 7 See OCC Cause Number PUD 201400359 (“ETC Cause”).
4
contain all census blocks covered by Project IDs 1, 4, 6, & 12 and a portion of the covered
census blocks in Project IDs 8 & 10.
10. Subsequently, NRS engaged an engineering firm to review any available
exchange and/or study area boundaries, maps, and the Commission’s census block information to
determine the service or study areas containing remaining census blocks covered by Project IDs
8 & 10. Maps reviewed were not discernible in relation to the census blocks. The engineers
attempted to utilize mapping software to overlay the relevant blocks in order to identify the
study areas or exchanges for which NRS may be required to seek ETC designation. Following
mapping analysis, it appeared covered census blocks may be served, at least in part if not
entirely, by either Chouteau Telephone Company, d/b/a FairPoint Communications (Chouteau)
or CenturyTel of Northwest Arkansas, LLC d/b/a CenturyLink (CenturyTel). Chouteau and
CenturyTel are both rural telephone companies as defined in 47 U.S.C. § 153(44).
11. After conferring with CenturyTel’s attorney, NRS learned that CenturyTel would
not be opposing or participating in the ETC Cause.
12. On or about January 28, 2015, NRS contacted Chouteau’s counsel to definitively
determine whether the rural telephone company was price cap or rate-of-return regulated.
Unforeseen by NRS, Chouteau’s counsel indicated it was a “hybrid” in relation to said
regulation. Chouteau is a price cap carrier for purposes of federal universal services support, but
is rate-of-return in relation to other aspects of its service provision. After discussing potential
inclusion of Chouteau’s study area in the ETC Cause, Chouteau’s counsel indicated there was no
intent to cause unnecessary delay and was already aware of the RBE March 5, 2015 ETC
designation deadline. Chouteau’s counsel did address the public interest component associated
5
with ETC designation in rural telephone company study areas when recommending NRS confer
with the Commission regarding removal of supported census blocks located in said areas.
13. In reviewing Commission reports, orders, and materials, ambiguity seemed
apparent relative to the RBE Order and a situation involving a “hybrid” regulated service
provider such as Chouteau.8
14. In light of NRS’s engineer’s mapping analysis and lack of clarity concerning the
effect of Chouteau’s “hybrid” regulation, NRS supplemented its Application on January 29,
2015, to include Chouteau and CenturyTel areas within the ETC designation request. Through
such course of action, NRS continued good faith efforts to obtain ETC designation.9
15. Upon filing the January 29, 2015 Amendment to Application, NRS and PUD
discussed a motion for procedural schedule intended to set the final ETC hearing prior to March
5, 2015.
16. On February 2, 2015 NRS conferred with Chouteau regarding the motion for
procedural schedule (containing the aforesaid final hearing date) and requested an agreement as
to specially setting a hearing on the motion. Prior to receiving Chouteau’s response, PUD
contacted NRS to discuss the proposed schedule and agreed on February 27, 2015 as the final
hearing date to be included in the procedural schedule motion. In addition, NRS was advised to
promptly commence drafting a proposed final order granting ETC designation and to distribute
the order to the parties for review.
17. However, on February 9, 2015, Chouteau informed NRS it was unable to agree to
the proposed procedural schedule at the February 12, 2015 motion docket. Chouteau also
8 See generally RBE Order, 29 FCC rcd at 8778, para. 17 and FN 43. 9 See Amendment to Application filed in Cause Number PUD 201400359, Oklahoma Corporation Commission, and Second Amendment to Application (merely clarifying designation request relative to Chouteau’s service area) filed in Cause Number PUD 201400359, Oklahoma Corporation Commission.
6
informed NRS it would be participating in the ETC Cause, and was reviewing all potential
issues/concerns which required more time than was built into the procedural
schedule(s). Chouteau’s current position on the proposed schedule did not appear to validate the
earlier assertion regarding lack of intent to unduly delay the ETC Cause.
18. On February 11, 2014, NRS was surprised to learn PUD was no longer agreeing
to the dates proposed in the motion for procedural schedule. PUD’s position was contrary to its
prior agreement regarding the applicable motion as it had offered February 27, 2015 at 9:30 a.m.
as the date/time for final hearing. As to the reason for this unexpected opposition, PUD alluded
to the requirement that it find an ETC designation affecting rural telephone company study areas
(i.e. Chouteau and CenturyTel) serves the public interest. NRS inquired as to the justification for
the PUD’s altered position as it pertained to ETC designation in CenturyTel’s study area.
Explanation was merited as CenturyTel’s counsel stated two weeks prior it would neither oppose
nor participate in the ETC cause. Per PUD, the public interest finding takes considerable time
and it was not proper to expedite the process for NRS.
19. Based on the opposition to the proposed procedural schedule, it became apparent
NRS was extremely unlikely to obtain ETC designation in the Chouteau and CenturyTel areas
prior to the March 5, 2015 deadline. However, the OCC indicated the initial procedural
schedule, with the a final hearing to be held on February 27, 2015, would be acceptable if NRS
were to remove study areas of Chouteau and CenturyTel from relief sought in the ETC Cause.
Likewise, Chouteau stated it would agree to withdraw its Entry of Appearance and refrain from
further intervention upon dismissal of the proceedings as to Chouteau (without prejudice to
expeditiously re-filing) and removal of its study area therefrom.
7
20. Considering the subject deadline, NRS’s options were either: (a) proceed with the
Application, as amended, and likely file a petition for an extension of time and/or waiver and for
completing ETC designation for all selected project bids; or (b) attempt efforts to dramatically
increase the possibility of satisfying the ETC designation criteria for Project IDs 1, 4, 6, & 12
through dismissal of proceedings as to Chouteau and CenturyTel, promptly re-filing the same
application for ETC designation throughout said companies’ study areas, and petitioning the
Commission for an extension of time and/or waiver of the March 5, 2015 deadline for Project
IDs 8 & 10.
21. NRS elected to proceed under option (b) as the same presented the greatest
possibility of serving the public interest and furthering the collective goal of advancing the
deployment of voice and broadband capable networks in rural, high-cost and extremely high-cost
areas.
22. Following dismissal and study area removal of the rural telephone companies in
the ETC Cause, NRS promptly re-filed separate applications seeking ETC designation in
Chouteau and CenturyTel study areas, respectively.10 See Exhibits B & C attached hereto.
23. On February 27, 2015, the final hearing was held in the ETC Cause. Following
the hearing the OCC issued the ETC Order designating NRS as an ETC throughout the AT&T
exchanges identified in the Application. In the ETC Order, testimony on behalf of PUD opined
that “because NRS will use the anticipated federal funds to increase and establish the availability
of broadband telecommunications services in rural, high-cost price cap areas, which furthers
10 See Application of Northeast Rural Services, Inc. for Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier Pursuant to the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Cause Number PUD 201500079 filed with the OCC on February 20, 2015; and Application of Northeast Rural Services, Inc. for Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier Pursuant to the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Cause Number PUD 201500081 filed with the OCC on February 20, 2015 (the purpose for two separate filings contemplates the potential to adjudicate the proceeding concerning CenturyTel rapidly as it had no intention of opposing or participating in NRS’s ETC Cause and the OCC may have examined the “public interest” component in said Cause relative to RBE).
8
universal service goals, PUD Staff believes grant of the requested ETC designation is in the
public interest.”11
24. On March 4, 2015, the Commission issued a Public Notice identifying NRS as an
additional provisionally selected bidder under RBE. NRS’s total requested support of
$7,415,062 is comprised of six (6) selected project bids (Project IDs 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, & 11) which, if
combined, cover 588 census blocks.12
III. GRANT OF REQUESTED WAIVER AND EXTENSION OF TIME IS AUTHORIZED UNDER THE RBE
A. NRS Engaged in Good Faith to Obtain ETC Designation
In the RBE Order and other materials, the Commission has expressly authorized waiver
and, at the least, implicitly contemplated extending the March 5, 2015 ETC designation deadline
associated with the post-selection review process.13 Accordingly, the RBE Order specifically
addresses ETC designation requirements and waiver:
“We remind entities that they need not be ETCs at the time they initially submit their formal proposals for funding through the rural broadband experiments, but that they must obtain ETC designation after being identified as winning bidders for the funding award. As stated in the Tech Transitions Order, we expect entities to confirm their ETC status within 90 days of the public notice announcing the winning bidders selected to receive funding . . . . However, a waiver of this deadline may be appropriate if a winning bidder is able to demonstrate that it has engaged in good faith to obtain ETC designation, but has not received approval within the 90-day timeframe.”14
11 See ETC Order at 12. 12 Wireline Competition Bureau Announces Additional Provisionally Selected Bidders for Rural Broadband Experiments and Sets Deadlines for Submission of Additional Information, WC Docket Nos. 10-90, 14-259, FCC Public Notice DA-15-288 (March 4, 2015). 13 The experimental component of the RBE inherently justifies waving Commission rules (e.g. deadlines) as evidenced by all post-selection review requirements contemplate potential wavier. See generally RBE Order 14 RBE Order 29 FCC Rcd at 8779, para. 22. (Emphasis added).
9
The footnote (FN 52) to the RBE Order excerpt evidences the Commission’s expectation for
provisionally selected bidders to file ETC applications as soon as possible upon release of the
December 5, 2014 Public Notice identifying said bidders.15 A bidder that files its ETC
application within fifteen (15) days of December 5, 2014 will be presumed to have shown good
faith.16
Moreover, the Commission’s “FAQs for Rural Broadband Experiments” (FAQ) at
Section III(E) provides the following with regard to waiver:
“The Commission has indicated that a waiver of the 90-day deadline for obtaining an ETC designation may be appropriate if the provisionally selected bidder is able to demonstrate that it has engaged in good faith to obtain ETC designation, but has not received approval within the 90-day timeline. To the extent any provisionally winning bidder believes it will be unable to obtain an ETC designation within this 90-day period due to circumstances outside of its control, i.e. the March 5th deadline, it may file a request for waiver with the FCC, and should describe in its waiver request when it filed for ETC designation at the state and any relevant facts regarding the progress of the state ETC proceeding.”17
In the instant matter, NRS is requesting the Commission grant an extension of time
and/or waiver of the March 5, 2015 deadline relative to post-selection review for Project IDs 8 &
10. These projects cover certain census blocks that appear to be located within the study areas of
Chouteau (Project ID 10) and CenturyTel (Project ID 8). In accordance with the RBE Order,
NRS is diligently working to obtain the requisite ETC designation through preparations for, and
ultimate filing of the Application in the ETC Cause on December 19, 2015. In fact, filing
occurred within fifteen (15) days of the Commission’s release of the Public Notice, and thus, a
presumption of good faith should apply to NRS’s requested relief contained within this request
for extension of time and/or waiver. Despite NRS supplementing the Application on January 29,
15 Id. at 8779, para. 22 and FN 52 16 Id. 17 FAQs for Rural Broadband Experiments at § III(E) (available at http://transition.fcc.gov/wcb/FAQ_Rural_Broadband_Experiment.pdf ) (Emphasis added).
10
2015 to include exchanges of Chouteau and CenturyTel, the ETC Cause relevant to such
supplementation was commenced within the fifteen (15) day window and adding such exchanges
was part and parcel of the initial filing. With the good faith presumption applying to NRS, the
Commission indicated that the relief requested herein may be appropriate.18
If the Commission deems the presumption to be inapplicable, NRS respectfully submits
the facts provided in the “Procedural Background” portion of this Petition as evidence of its good
faith and diligent efforts to obtain designation by the March 5, 2015 deadline. Successfully
obtaining ETC designation in the AT&T exchanges within the required timeframe is just one
example of NRS’s good faith. With or without the presumption of good faith in the instant
matter, NRS acted in accordance with the RBE Order relative to seeking ETC designation in
areas covering certain Project ID 8 & 10 census blocks, and thus, an extension of time and/or
waiver is justified.
B. Good Cause
The RBE Order cites to 47 C.F.R. § 1.3 when discussing waiver in the ETC context.19
Generally, 47 C.F.R. § 1.3. provides Commission rules may be waived for good cause shown.
The Commission’s waiver of a rule is permissible when particular facts make strict compliance
inconsistent with the public interest.20 The Commission “may discharge its responsibilities by
promulgating rules of general application which, in the overall perspective, establish ‘public
interest’ for a broad range of situations, does not relieve it of an obligation to seek out the ‘public
18 Notably, NRS offers that the fifteen (15) days window for filing an ETC application, which triggers a presumption of good faith, does not appear to provide ample time for entities to conduct necessary research and analysis relative to the specific exchanges for which ETC designation is required under the RBE. In Section II of this Petition, NRS discusses the difficulty of ascertaining the specific location of census blocks relative to exchanges or study areas, and thus, explains NRS’s need to supplement its initial Application to include Chouteau and CenturyTel study areas. For those reasons, NRS respectfully requests that the presumption remain applicable to NRS’s Application filed within the fifteen (15) day timeframe irrespective of the subsequent amendments filed in the ETC Cause. 19 RBE Order 29 FCC Rcd at 8779, para. 22. 20 AT&T Corporation v. Federal Communications Commission, 448 F.3d 426, 433(D.C. Cir. 2006), citing Northeast Cellular Tel. Co. v. FCC, 897 F.2d 1164, 1166 (D.C. Cir. 1990).
11
interest’ in particular, individualized cases.”21 In addition, the Commission may take into
account considerations of hardship, equity, or more effective implementation of overall policy on
an individual basis.22
Waiver of the Commission’s rules is appropriate if special circumstances warrant a
deviation from the general rule.23 In relation to the March 5, 2015 deadline, Section III(E) of
the FAQ expounds on the meaning of circumstances through reference to waiver because of
“circumstances outside of its control.”24
The particular facts of the instant matter render NRS’s relief requested herein consistent
with the public interest. The RBE seeks to advance the deployment of voice and broadband-
capable networks in rural, high-cost and extremely high-cost areas. NRS is headquartered in
northeast Oklahoma where many of the surrounding areas are remote and rural Oklahomans are
vastly underserved. Prior to being provisionally selected as a winning bidder under the RBE,
NRS was already committed to providing an expanded and improved network and facilities to
enable provision of quality service to areas in close proximity to those census blocks covered in
Project IDs 8 & 10. NRS has initiated construction of, and plans to continue construction of a
fiber plant which will allow NRS to provide broadband along with other supported services to
customers in Chouteau and CenturyTel study areas.
NRS is also proposing to offer broadband reaching speeds up to 1 gigabit to residential
and business customers. These unique speeds, along with NRS’ potential implementation of
voice-over-internet-protocol (“VoIP”) to provide supported voice telephony services, encompass
a competitive alternative to currently offered services in the applicable rural study areas.
21 WAIT Radio v. FCC, 418 F.2d 1153, 1157 (D.C. Cir. 1969). 22 Id. at 1159. 23 Id. at 1157. 24 FAQ at § III(E).
12
In addition, NRS was successful in obtaining ETC designation in the ETC Cause wherein
the OCC believed NRS will be capable of providing the supported services and PUD staff
testified ETC designation was in the public interest.25 Further, NRS has been provisionally
selected as a next-in-line bidder covering census blocks that may be located in Chouteau and
CenturyTel study areas associated with Project IDs 8 & 10 which are the subject of NRS’s
Petition. NRS will also be required to certify ETC designation under the post-selection review
process in connection with the next-in-line provisional selection and has already commenced
ETC proceedings relative to the subject study areas. Granting an extension of time and/or waiver
of the March 5, 2015 deadline for the applicable Project IDs, will improve the possibility that
NRS complies with next-in-line mandates, and thus, is certainly consistent with the public
interest and the underlying Commission rules indicated.
Specific to the “circumstances” required for extension of time and/or waiver, the facts
relevant to the instant request demonstrate circumstances outside of NRS’s control despite good
faith efforts to obtain requisite ETC designation. In such situation, the FAQ authorizes the filing
of this Petition for Extension of Time and/or Waiver. The FAQ requires submission of
information as to the filing of the Application in the ETC Cause and facts relevant to the
progress of the ETC cause. NRS submits that its recitation of the applicable events in the
“Procedural Background” section above is intended to satisfy the Commission’s requirements
stated in the FAQ.
With specific regard to demonstrating circumstances outside of NRS’s control, the FAQ
references the inability to meet the March 5, 2015 deadline as one such circumstance.
25 Notably, the law governing the OCC’s designation of an applicant as an ETC is devoid of any public interest finding requirement, but nonetheless, the PUD staff testified that NRS’s ETC designation was in the public interest. ETC Order at 12.
13
Unquestionably, the RBE Order expressly provides that entities “. . . need not be ETCs at the
time they initially submit their formal proposals for funding through the [RBE] . . . .”26
Submission of proposals by non-ETC entities corresponds with the Commission’s desire to
“encourage participation in the [RBE] from a wide range of entities . . . .”27 Unfortunately,
allowing non-ETC entities to submit proposals, but also requiring certification of ETC
designation within ninety (90) days of the Public Notice, created significant hardship for entities
to obtain ETC designation in Oklahoma.
The appropriate Oklahoma agency having jurisdiction over ETC proceedings is the OCC.
As referenced above, ETC designation for census blocks located within rural telephone company
study areas requires the OCC to find such designation is in the public interest.28 While there
exists no specific standards or time requirements for the OCC to make such determination, the
procedural background provided reveals the OCC’s apprehension to issue such finding on a
condensed time line. For instance, NRS sought ETC designation in CenturyTel’s study area as
certain census blocks covered in Project IDs 8 where located therein. Despite CenturyTel stating
that it would not be opposing or participating in the ETC Cause, the OCC was reluctant to find
ETC designation served the public interest before March 5, 2015.29 As such, neither NRS nor
applicable law can dictate the timeframe in which the OCC issues a public interest finding,
which clearly demonstrates circumstances outside of NRS’s control. Project IDs 8 & 10 required
a public interest finding in order to certify ETC designation, but the uncontrollable circumstances
26 RBE Order 29 FCC Rcd at 8779, para. 22. 27 Id. at 8779, para. 21. 28 47 U.S.C. § 214(e)(2). 29 After NRS supplemented its Application to include the rural telephone company exchanges, the OCC had agreed to a proposed final hearing date of February 27, 2015 in the ETC Cause. Upon Chouteau expressing opposition to the proposed procedural schedule, the OCC recanted its earlier agreement on proposed dates. The original agreement on the date for hearing supports NRS’s good faith ETC efforts as it appeared possible for the final hearing on the Application, as supplemented, to conclude before the March 5, 2015 deadline.
14
relevant thereto rendered NRS’s ability to satisfy the March 5, 2015 deadline impossible. For
these reasons, good cause exists to grant the relief requested herein.
In order for NRS to increase the possibility of obtaining ETC designation before the
subject deadline for Project IDs 1, 4, 6, & 12, it was forced to dismiss the ETC cause as to
Chouteau and CenturyTel. However, NRS continued its good faith efforts by promptly re-filing
applications requesting ETC designation in the study areas of both rural telephone companies
after dismissal. NRS believes that the OCC could make the requisite public interest findings
rapidly in the pending ETC proceedings as analysis relative thereto may have commenced during
the ETC Cause. Moreover, PUD testimony at the final hearing supports NRS’s position
regarding timing of public interest determinations. In the ETC Cause, testimony on behalf of the
PUD opined that ETC designation is in the public interest because federal support under the RBE
will increase and/or make available services in rural, high-cost price cap areas. It is likely that
ETC designation in Chouteau and CenturyTel study areas would be deemed to serve the public
interest in light of PUD’s testimony in the ETC Cause. For these reasons, NRS does not
anticipate extension of time and/or waiver will significantly impact the Commission’s RBE
schedule. This is especially true considering next-in-line bidders, of which NRS is one, have
until June 2, 2015 to obtain ETC designation for RBE support. Therefore, good cause exists and
it appears appropriate for the Commission to grant the relief requested herein.
Lastly, there exists potential for the Commission to view this Petition to determine if
NRS’s position raises arguments different from those considered in the rule-making process
preceding the RBE Order.30 Generally, the Commission’s anticipation of waivers in the context
of ETC designation and the March 5, 2015 deadline shows consideration of and support for
NRS’s requested relief. Additionally, in the January 31, 2014 Tech. Transitions Order preceding 30 See Industrial Broadcasting Co. v. FCC, 437 F.2d 680
15
the RBE Order, the Commission stated its desire to entertain proposals to extend next generation
networks in areas where the incumbent provider is a rate-of-return carrier.31 In the RBE Order,
the Commission opined:
We also decide that we will accept rural broadband experiment proposals only from entities that seek to provide service in price cap territories. Over the coming months, we will be focused on reviewing the record we will shortly receive regarding near term and long term reforms to develop a Connect American Fund for rate-of-return carriers. We believe it prudent to focus our efforts on these issues, rather than confronting the many difficult issues with potential implementation of rural broadband experiments in rate-of-return areas.32
The footnote to the above excerpt clarifies that winning bidders under the RBE are
prohibited from building in portions of census blocks served by rate-of-return incumbents and
experiment funding is only to be used in price cap territories.33
From NRS’s review of relevant materials, ambiguity seems to exist relative to the RBE
Order and a situation involving a “hybrid” regulated service provider. As discussed above,
Chouteau stated it was a price cap carrier for purposes of federal universal services support, but
is a rate-of-return incumbent in relation to other aspects of its service provision. As the “hybrid”
concept may have added to NRS’s failure in meeting the March 5, 2015 deadline (see discussion
above under Section II “Procedural Background”), good cause for granting an extension of time
and/or waiver in this case is further supported if the Commission did not consider potential
compliance obstacles arising in connection with “hybrid” carriers.
IV. CONCLUSION
NRS has consistently committed its resources to the fullest extent in complying with
deadlines established for the RBE. For NRS Project IDs 8 & 10, it is in the public interest to
31 Technology Transitions et al., GN Docket No. 13-5 et al., Order et al., 29 FCC Rcd 1433, 1500 at para.205. (2014). 32 RBE Order 29 FCC Rcd at 8778, para. 17. (Emphasis added). 33 Id. at para. 17, FN 43.
16
extend the RBE post-review selection process March 5, 2015 deadline for submitting appropriate
documentation of ETC designation for census blocks encompassed within rural telephone
company study areas and/or waive said deadline with regard to same. Granting such relief will
allow NRS to continue seeking ETC designations in proceedings pending before the OCC and
will facilitate the Commission’s and NRS’s joint goal of bringing affordable, reliable, and dearly
needed services to unserved rural areas of Oklahoma.
DATED this 5th day of March, 2015.
Respectfully submitted,
LOGAN & LOWRY, LLP 101 South Wilson Street P. O. Box 558 Vinita, OK 74301 (918) 256-7511 (918) 256-3187 (fax) [email protected] [email protected]
Attorneys for Applicant, Northeast Rural Services, Inc.
By: __/s/ Michael T. Torrone_______
Michael T. Torrone, OBA #21848 Nathan M. Bloomer, OBA #31944
EXHIBIT A
EXHIBIT B
EXHIBIT C